2011 Hatchlings - Too young to breed?

[DooLittle]

I can hardly stand the wait myself. I have some that I am sure will be up to weight, but not by age. I have to wait another year.

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[Mike41793]

Im not gunna say yes or no bc i dont really have experience with this yet.

I do know some snakes do reach sexual maturity sooner than others. (im pretty sure RobNJ had an 18month old cinny lay for him this year).

My question for experienced breeders is: if he does pair them this young and theyre not sexually mature yet what negative effects would that have on the female? Or the male? Would it stress the females out enough where they stop eating or something? Would it discourage males at all?

[Mike41793]

I can hardly stand the wait myself. I have some that I am sure will be up to weight, but not by age. I have to wait another year.

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I was chatting with your bee earlier. She said she wants to be introduced to the enchi in early spring.

[el8ch]

Patience is key with breeding.

I have no problem waiting, when I tossed the girls on the scale last week I was just surprised to see their weight gain.

My question for experienced breeders is: if he does pair them this young and theyre not sexually mature yet what negative effects would that have on the female? Or the male? Would it stress the females out enough where they stop eating or something? Would it discourage males at all?

Good question Mike, I'd be interested to know the potential 'side effects' as well.

Myth or not... I have heard that If a male will not breed or shows no interest in breeding, introducing another male with him will get him going. At the same time I have also heard this can cause a male breeder to stress and not breed.

[loonunit]

I think I'd wait? I secretly probably believe they wouldn't make eggs if they weren't ready, just because two of my 2008 females keep locking me out of the black pastel pied project by stubbornly not laying year after year.... but if you wait, you'll have a HUGE female. She'll give you more eggs if you wait a year, and she'll always BE huge, and will probably give you larger clutches down the road.

[mykee]

Just because they CAN doesn't mean you SHOULD.
Hell, some nine year old humans are capable of producing offspring, but it's a BAD idea.
Everyone's in such a rush these last years, gotta make your money back fast!!! Hurry! Hurry!

[el8ch]

.... but if you wait, you'll have a HUGE female. She'll give you more eggs if you wait a year, and she'll always BE huge, and will probably give you larger clutches down the road.

That's the plan. If she keeps going at this pace I think she'll be a monster.

Hell, some nine year old humans are capable of producing offspring, but it's a BAD idea. Everyone's in such a rush these last years, gotta make your money back fast!!! Hurry! Hurry!

Personally, making my money back is no big deal at this point. These girls won't be going in the fall, although I hope they keep packing on the pounds.

And to your first point... yes, that is a BAD idea!

[Kinra]

I bred my 2010 lemon pastel this past season. She wasn't up to weight and I only paired her three times (the last two times only because she was headed towards ovy). She laid 5 good eggs and they just hatched. Honestly looking back while I do have 5 awesome babies if I could go back and do it again I would probably wait. That being said she was the only 2010 I bred last season and she was the only one giving out huge signs that she wanted to breed.

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[mykee]

Most of us are smarter than the snakes that are under our care.
I remember some years ago, when the youngest anyone would consider breeding a female at was three years and 2000g.
Greedy greedy greedy.
Huge congratulations to those who have the knowledge (and willpower) to hold off breeding their females as soon as they think they can get eggs.

[Robert093090]

Hello, i do not so much years of experience but i did have an "accident" happen to me when i use to keep snakes in tanks. I kept a male normal with a female normal for too long and she got pregant and laid 3 healthy eggs waaayyy early in season and she was under 1000g easy. Well the eggs were laid in december 2011 and didn't make it because they were attached to the yolk but this goes to show you that they will breed if given the chance.

The girl now is 1800g+ & here are her three little eggs


This is her 2 days after laying...